Abrasion disk for soap dispensers

ABSTRACT

An abrasion or rasp disk for use in a soap dispenser for abrading soap particles from a soap bar, the disk being provided with a plurality of curved radially extending recesses having abrading teeth struck from an edge thereof.

United States Patent [191 Gneiding Mar. 11, 1975 1 ABRASION DISK FOR SOAP DISPENSERS [75] Inventor: Albert Gneiding, Friedrichshafen,

Germany [73] Assig nee: Belras AG, Rorschach, Switzerland [22] Filed: May 31, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 365,482

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 13, 1972 Germany 2228633 [52] U.S. C1. 29/78, 241/92 [51] Int. Cl. 323d 71/00 [58] Field of Search 29/78; 241/83, 92, 91,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,354,325 9/1920 Mitchell 51/2095 McArdle et a1 241/92 2,622,310 12/1952 Luchsinger 29/78 2,700,995 2/1955 Ritter 241/92 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,639 l/1874 Great Britain 241/92 8,944 1/1891 Great Britain 241/92 815,158 8/1951 Germany 241/92 283,333 6/1952 Switzerland 4 241/92 174,072 3/1935 Switzerland 241/92 116,243 2/1930 Austria 83/3563 Primary Examiner-J. M. Meister Assistant Examiner-W. R. Briggs Attorney, Agent, or FirmHil1, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT An abrasion or rasp disk for use in a soap dispenser for abrading soap particles from a soap bar, the disk being provided with a plurality of curved radially extending recesses having abrading teeth struck from an edge thereof.

11 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures M'ENTEU W1 1 1935 Fig. 2

ABRASION DISK FOR SOAP DISPENSERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to abrading disks and more particularly to an abrading or rasp disk for use in soap dispensers.

2. Prior Art Soap dispensers utilizing bars of soap which are forced against a movable abrasion surface for particlizing the soap bar to provide a powdered soap product are known to the art.

In such soap dispensers, a square soap bar is generally used which is bored through longitudinally and which is supported on a thread spindle with a feed means which continuously presses a lower frontal surface of the soap against an abrasion device such as a rasp disk. The abrasion device is generally attached at the lower end of the spindle and may be located on a frame which serves as a hand wheel by which soap parts may be shaved off by rotating the hand wheel. The soap particles are allowed to fall into a hand which is placed under the dispenser.

Prior art rasp disk or abrasion devices have utilized radial slots which have edges lying at a circumferential side or edge wall of the slot or cut. Some such devices have provided somewhat upwardly projecting teeth for shaving off the soap. Such prior art disks do not operate evenly enough to guarantee the most economical soap consumption and do not provide a fine powdered product. The radial tooth rows shown a tendency to support on one hand a centrifugal abrasion toward the periphery and on the other hand to break off larger pieces from the edges of the soap bar.

It has also been known in the prior art to utilize rasp disks with holes which are randomly distributed across the surface. Such constructions evidence the same drawbacks as the prior art radial cut or slot disks.

One prior art construction evidences a surface having holes provided with teeth which are arranged in such a way that the teeth of the previous or following rows of holes are staggered from the one row whereby the holes are arranged in rows which are provided at equal distance to each other along parallel curves running from the center of the disk toward the periphery. While such a disk has advantages over other prior art rasp disks, it has proved uneconomical, particularly in the case of use with soap bars of lower quality. In such instances, the soap is not shaved off but small pieces or flakes are broken therefrom which results in a high soap consumption and an incomplete utilization of the bar of soap.

It would therefore be an advance in the art to create a rasp disk which can be advantageously used in dispensers operating with soap bars but which does not have the drawbacks of the prior known embodiments and which provides an extraordinarily fine abrasion of the soap. It would further be desirable to produce such a disk where the vertical advance of the soap against the disk would be maintained small between successive teeth which would become effective at the same point in order to prevent breaking of the soap as well as flake formation and to thereby increase the utilization of the soap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention has provided such a rasp disk wherein the recesses which are worked into the rasp disk are designed as forwardly bent slots which are arched or curved in a rotary direction. The teeth are'worked into the disk along at least one longitudinal side of the recesses, and preferably at the longer longitudinal side lying at the rear of the slot with respect to the direction of rotation of the disk.

In the preferred embodiment, the slots or recesses are circular shaped in the form of a semi-circular ring segment. Further the center point of the curvature of the segments of at least several of the recesses is provided at a point on the disk such that the inner end of the recesses runs substantially vertical to the shaft carrying disk and the outer end of the recess runs substantially tangential to the periphery of the rasp disk or abrasion disk. By describing the inner end as running almost vertical to the shaft, I am intending to describe the position of the inner diameter end of the slots as illustrated in the drawing where the slot is formed with a curvature such that the leading edge will intersect the central shaft opening and the inner diameter edge can therefore be at least partially formed adjacent the shaft opening.

Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, it has been found advantageous to arrange thcenters of curvatures of all of the recesses in the disk as positioned on a base circle which has a diameter corresponding to approximately one-half the diameter of the rasp disk and to provide the recesses or slots symmetrically on opposite sides of the axis with the same curvature whereby opposed recesses are S-shaped with respect to each other.

In a second embodiment, to provide for optimum utilization of the surface of the rasp disk, preferably in its radially outer portions, I have provided a second series of slots or recesses which are similarly shaped and which are arranged between the above mentioned slots or recesses and which preferably have their inner diameters terminating on the base circle. This embodiment is especially advantageous in that the centers of curvature of all recesses are arranged from the center of the rasp disk under an angle of approximately 45 in respect to each other and which lie along the base circle.

The teeth of my rasp disk are designed in a simple manner and are preferably triangularly shaped in the form of an equilateral triangle with tips which are bent outwardly to the side edge. Furthermore, the teeth are preferably bent out on an angle which is larger than 45 and which ideally is approximately 60 to the side edge.

A rasp or abrading disk which is constructed according to this invention is especially applicable for soap dispensers which operate with soap bars. The invention is distinguished by a noncomplex construction and by an economical production method which can be carried out by, for example, a multiple press too]. Also the invention discloses an optimum utilization of the surface of the disk so that during a rotation of the soap dispenser hand wheel a multitude of teeth will shave over the soap bar assuring a fine abrasion. The abrasion is enhanced by designing the teeth along one edge of slots which are forwardly bent arch-like in the direction of rotation of the disk with the teeth worked at an angle to the disk. Even in the case of use with wet soap, undesirable lump or flake formation is prevented inasmuch as the soap bar feed between two teeth which work the soap at the same point can be maintained small because of the multitude of teeth.

In addition, almost complete utilization of the soap bar is possible due to the arch-like arrangement of the teeth which existin a large number thereby assuring that the pressure of the soap bar against the disk is distributed more evenly than heretofore. Thus a rasp disk which is designed according to this invention offers considerable advantages over prior art soap dispensers which operate with soap bars and furthermore the invention guarantees an optimum operation of the soap dispenser.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved soap dispenser.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new rasp or abrasion disk for soap dispensers.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a rasp or abrasion disk for use in soap dispensers which has a plurality of teeth carrying slots arranged therein, the slots being curved in the direction of rotation of the disk.

It is another and more particular object of this invention to provide a rasp or abrasion disk for soap dispensers having a plurality of slots therein, the slots being curved in the direction of rotation of the disk, the slots having their curvature struck from a center point, the center points of-curvatures of the slots lying on a base circle having a diameter approximately half the diameter of the disk, the slots having abrading teeth along a back edge thereof.

Other objects features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a rasp disk according to this invention.

v FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the rasp disk of FIG. 1 taken along the lines lIIIof FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As illustrated in FIG. 1, a rasp disk 1 according to this invention is designed to be installed into a soap dispenser (not shown) which operates with soap bars. The disk 1 is supported rotatably on a shaft inserted into a central bore 2 associated with a soap feeding device. The disk 1 is connected to a hand wheel for rotation in the direction of the arrow 4. Although the disk is illustrated as being circular, it is to be understood that in certain instances, depending upon the embodiment of the soap dispenser in which it is to be used, the disk could have a different shape. The disk 1 is preferably constructed of sheet steel and is provided with peripheral punched out recesses 3.

It is the object of the rasp disk to abrade tine particles of soap from the soap bar in the dispenser and to allow them to drop from the dispenser into a users hand. For the purpose of abrading the material, in the preferred embodiment, soap, partcircular recesses 11, 11', 12 and 12 are provided. The recesses are slot-like and are curved, preferably bent forwardly in the direction of the rotation 4 of the disk 1. The recesses are worked into the disk and provided with projecting teeth 17 on their longer side edge lying on the back of the reces- 4 ses 11, 11, 12, l2"with regard to the rotation of the disk.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, in order to provide for maximum utilization of the surface of the rasp disk 1, a second set of recesses 13, 13', 14, 14 are provided with teeth. The second set of recesses 13, 13, 14, 14 are arranged between the recesses 11, 11, 12, or 12. Each of the recesses 11, 12, 13 and 14 are provided on one-half of the disk 1 in symmetrical relationship with one of the recesses 11, 12, 13', 14 which is provided on the other half, the mating sets, for example, ll, 11' or 13, 13 being arranged invertedly and S-shaped to one another. It is to be understood that the arrangement of the teeth 17 at the back side or longer side 15 of the recesses is a preferred embodiment but that in other constructions it is possible to arrange the teeth at the front or shorter side 16 or on both sides.

The recesses 11 to 12' are located in a ring band intermediate the center of the disk and the outer periphery of the disk having ends which are closely spaced to the opening 2 and to the outer periphery. The recesses are part-circular or curved having centers 19 or 19' which are located on a base circle 11 in the illustrated embodiment. The centers 19, 19' lie on the base circle and are displaced with respect to one another by 45. In this manner, it is possible to provide on the disk four recesses 11, 11', 12, 12' which have their inner ends close spaced to the center opening 2 and which have their outer ends close spaced to the outer periphery of the disk. Intermediate the recesses 11, 11, 12, 12' are provided four shorter recesses 13, 13, 14 and 14 which have their inner diameter ends terminating approximately at the base circle 11 and their outer ends approaching the outer periphery of the disk. This construction is easilymanufactured by means of a multiple press tool.

By arranging the centers 19, 19' on the base circle 18 which has a diameter corresponding to approximately one-half of the rasp disk 1, the inner ends 21 of the longer recesses ll, 11, 12 and 12' run approximately vertical to the shaft supporting the rasp disk 1 with their outer ends 22 running approximately tangential to the periphery of the disk 1. The shorter recesses 13, l3, l4 and 14' then may have their inner diameter ends at the base circle and their outer diameter ends close to and almost tangentially directed to the outer diameter of the disk 1. In this manner an almost complete utilization of the surface of the rasp disk is provided and the recesses may be formed as segments of a circle having a diameter of approximately half the diameter of the rasp disk.

The teeth 17, provided at the longitudinal side 15 of the recesses 11 to 14' are designed triangular shaped in the manner of an equilateral triangle as shown in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale. The teeth 17 are bent forwardly in the direction of rotation at an angle of approximately to the plane of the abrasion disk 1. Additionally,

pensers which assures an almost complete utilization of a soap bar in a soap dispenser and which provides uniform small particle abrasion of the soap disk without flaking or chipping.

Although the teachings of my invention have herein been discussed with reference to specific theories and embodiments, it is to be understood that these are by way of illustration only and that others may wish to utilize my invention in different designs or applications.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A rotatable rasp disk for use in connection with a soap dispenser which operates with bars of soap comprising: a disk having projecting teeth thereon, the teeth provided along longitudinal edges of a plurality of arcuately curved recesses through the disk, the recesses comprising slots, said slots being curved in a radial direction and formed as segments of a circle having their centers circumferentially ahead of the slots in the direction of rotation of the disk, the slots having opposed end portions curving away from an'intermediate portion in the direction of rotation, the teeth provided by the material of the disk projecting upwardly therefrom at an angle to the plane of the disk in the direction of rotation.

2. A rasp disk according to claim 1 wherein the center points of the circles of which the recesses are segments are arranged such that the inner ends of the recesses are substantially vertical to a shaft supporting the disk through the axis of the disk and outer ends of the recesses are substantially tangential to the outer periphery of the rasp disk.

3. A rasp disk according to claim 2 wherein the center points of the recesses are arranged on a base circle having a diameter of approximately half the diameter of the rasp disk, the base circle being concentric with the rasp disk.

4. The disk of claim 3 wherein at least two of the recesses are disposed on opposite sides of the disk from one another and are radially symmetric with one another and are disposed on the disk in substantially S- shaped relation.

5. The disk according to claim 4 wherein two alternating sets of recesses are provided, one of said sets having the inner ends of the recesses terminating adjacent the base circle.

6. The disk of claim 5 wherein the centers of curvatures of all the recesses are arranged on the base circle and are located approximately 45 circumferentially from one another.

7. The disk according to claim 6 wherein the teeth of the rasp disk are triangular shaped with projecting tips directed radially outwardly from a side edge of the recess in the direction of rotation of the disk.

8. The disk of claim 7 wherein the teeth are bent outwardly from the plane of the rasp disk greater than 45.

9. A rasp disk for use in soap dispensers which comprises: a disk, said disk having an axial opening therethrough, a plurality of recesses through said disk, said recesses lying between the opening and an outer periphery of the disk, said recesses curved in a radial direction and formed as segments of circles having their centers circumferentially ahead of the recess in the direction of rotation of the disk, the centers of the recesses lying on a base circle having a diameter approximately half the diameter of the disk, and teeth provided on a circumferential back side of each recess with regard to the direction of rotation, the teeth projecting at an angle from the plane of the disk towards the direction of rotation.

10. A disk according to claim 9 wherein two sets of alternating recesses are provided, one of said sets having an inner diameter end closely spaced to the central opening and an outer diameter end closely spaced to the periphery of the disk, the outer diameter end approaching the periphery substantially tangentially thereto, the other set of recesses having inner diameter ends terminating at the base circle.

11. A rotatable rasp disk for use in connection with a soap dispenser which operates with bars of soap com prising: a disk having projecting teeth thereon, the teeth projecting along the circumferentially trailing longitudinal edges of a plurality of arcuately curved recesses extending through the disk, the recesses comprising slots which are curved as segments of a circle forwardly in the direction of the disk with opposed end portions curving away from intermediate portions, the center points of the circles of which the recesses are segments arranged ahead of the recesses in the direction of rotation on a base circle having a diameter of approximately half the diameter of the rasp disk, the base circle being concentric with the disk, the recesses having inner ends substantially vertical to a shaft supporting the disk through the axis of the disk and outer ends substantially tangential to the outer periphery of the disk, a set of second recesses alternating with the recesses, the set of second recesses having inner ends thereof terminating adjacent the base circle and outer ends thereof substantially tangent to the periphery of the disk, the recesses and second set of recesses disposed circumferentially spaced from one another around the disk in pairs whereby each recess of a pair lies approximately on opposite sides of the disk from the other recess of the pair and are radially symmetrical to one another in substantially S-shaped relation, the center of the circles of which each of the second set of recesses are segments lying on the base circle, the centers of all recesses spaced approximately 45 circumferentially from one another. 

1. A rotatable rasp disk for use in connection with a soap dispenser which operates with bars of soap comprising: a disk having projecting teeth thereon, the teeth provided along longitudinal edges of a plurality of arcuately curved recesses through the disk, the recesses comprising slots, said slots being curved in a radial direction and formed as segments of a circle having their centers circumferentially ahead of the slots in the direction of rotation of the disk, the slots having opposed end portions curving away from an intermediate portion in the direction of rotation, the teeth provided by the material of the disk projecting upwardly therefrom at an angle to the plane of the disk in the direction of rotation.
 1. A rotatable rasp disk for use in connection with a soap dispenser which operates with bars of soap comprising: a disk having projecting teeth thereon, the teeth provided along longitudinal edges of a plurality of arcuately curved recesses through the disk, the recesses comprising slots, said slots being curved in a radial direction and formed as segments of a circle having their centers circumferentially ahead of the slots in the direction of rotation of the disk, the slots having opposed end portions curving away from an intermediate portion in the direction of rotation, the teeth provided by the material of the disk projecting upwardly therefrom at an angle to the plane of the disk in the direction of rotation.
 2. A rasp disk according to claim 1 wherein the center points of the circles of which the recesses are segments are arranged such that the inner ends of the recesses are substantially vertical to a shaft supporting the disk through the axis of the disk and outer ends of the recesses are substantially tangential to the outer periphery of the rasp disk.
 3. A rasp disk according to claim 2 wherein the center points of the recesses are arranged on a base circle having a diameter of approximately half the diameter of the rasp disk, the base circle being concentric with the rasp disk.
 4. The disk of claim 3 wherein at least two of the recesses are disposed on opposite sides of the disk from one another and are radially symmetric with one another and are disposed on the disk in substantially S-shaped relation.
 5. The disk according to claim 4 wherein two alternating sets of recesses are provided, one of said sets having the inner ends of the recesses terminating adjacent the base circle.
 6. The disk of claim 5 wherein the centers of curvatures of all the recesses are arranged on the base circle and are located approximately 45* circumferentially from one another.
 7. The disk according to claim 6 wherein the teeth of the rasp disk are triangular shaped with projecting tips directed radially outwardly from a side edge of the recess in the direction of rotation of the disk.
 8. The disk of claim 7 wherein the teeth are bent outwardly from the plane of the rasp disk greater than 45*.
 9. A rasp disk for use in soap dispensers which comprises: a disk, said disk having an axial opening therethrough, a plurality of recesses through said disk, said recesses lying between the opening and an outer periphery of the disk, said recesses curved in a radial direction and formed as segments of circles having their centers circumferentially ahead of the recess in the direction of rotation of the disk, the centers of the recesses lying on a base circle having a diameter approximately half the diameter of the disk, and teeth provided on a circumferential back side of each recess with regard to the direction of rotation, the teeth projecting at an angle from the plane of the disk towards the direction of rotation.
 10. A disk according to claim 9 wherein two sets of alternating recesses are provided, one of said sets having an inner diameter end closely spaced to the central opening and an outer diameter end closely spaced to the periphery of the disk, the outer diameter end approaching the periphery substantially tangentially thereto, the other set of recesses having inner diameter ends terminating at the base circle. 